Double bearing fishing reel

ABSTRACT

A double bearing fishing reel in which an elastic member is interposed between a braking force acting member subjected to the braking action exerted by a drag mechanism and a braking force not-acting member relative-rotatable with respect to the braking force acting member, a pointer is provided at one of both the members, and a display for displaying the braking force is provided at the other, so that the braking force is measurable.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 196,553, filed May 20, 1988,which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,953, on Feb. 13, 1990.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a double bearing fishing reel, and moreparticularly, to a double bearing fishing reel which rotatably supportsa spool shaft having a spool to a reel body having a pair of side framesand which is provided with a drive mechanism for driving the spool and adrag mechanism for exerting the braking action against rotation of thespool with respect to the drive mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, this kind of double bearing fishing reel, as disclosed inJapanese Utility Model Publication Gazette No. Sho. 57-28629, includes(1) a spool shaft rotatably supported to a reel body provided with apair of side frames with the spool shaft fixedly supporting a spool, (2)a drive mechanism provided with a driving shaft, a main gear supportedrotatably relative thereto, and a pinion engageable with the main gearand supported to the spool shaft, the driving shaft being driven torotate the spool shaft; and (3) a drag mechanism provided with a dragdisc positioned opposite to the main gear and an adjuster screwing withthe driving shaft to urge the drag disc toward the main gear so as toadjust a rotational braking force of the main gear with respect to thedriving shaft.

This conventional double bearing fishing reel, however, has no displayfor displaying the braking force adjusted by the adjuster, therebycreating a problem in that, even when the adjuster is operated to setthe braking force of the drag mechanism corresponding to the type offish to be caught, an angler cannot be informed of the accurate presetbraking force.

When the same kind of target fish is intended to caught, it ispreferably to adjust the adjuster to be positioned to obtain an optimumbraking force in consideration of the relation between the target fishand the proof stress of a fishing line in use. However, the adjuster isadjusted each time a different kind of fish is hooked, and also isadjustable from a minimum to a maximum of the optimum braking force,whereby even when the optimum braking force is preset, it is difficultfor the adjuster to return with accuracy to the position where theoptimum braking force is obtained.

Therefore, the adjuster, when shifted corresponding to the target fish,must be adjusted to be positioned to get the optimum braking force everytime, or the next fishing must be carried out while keeping the adjustershifted from the position where the optimum braking force is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the invention is to provide a double bearing fishingreel which can reliably measure and check an accurate braking forcepreset by the drag mechanism corresponding to a kind of a fish to becaught.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double bearing fishingreel which can always put the adjuster in the position where the optimumbraking force is preset and measured, in other words, which canaccurately and easily return the adjuster to the position where theoptimum braking force is again obtained even when the adjuster isshifted for adjustment from the position where the preset optimumbraking force is obtained.

The present invention is characterized in that, in a double bearingfishing reel provided with a reel body having a pair of side frames, aspool shaft having a spool and supported rotatably to the reel body, adrive mechanism for winding a fishing line onto the spool, and a dragmechanism for applying a braking force against rotation of the spoolwith respect to the drive mechanism, the drag mechanism is provided withan adjuster for adjusting the braking force and a braking forcemeasuring mechanism for measuring the braking force set by the adjuster.The braking force measuring mechanism is provided with an elastic memberinterposed between a braking force acting member subjected to thebraking action exerted by the drag mechanism and a braking forcenon-acting member rotatable with respect to the braking force actingmember, a pointer provided at one of the braking force acting member andthe braking force non-acting member, and a display provided at the otherand for displaying the braking force of the drag mechanism correspondingto the pointer.

The double bearing fishing reel of the invention can adjust an optimumbraking force by the adjuster and measure it by reading a scale of thedisplay coincident with the pointer.

In other words, one of the braking force acting member and the brakingforce non-acting member is rotated relative to the other so as tomeasure the braking force. The relative rotation deflects the elasticmember and, when its reaction overcomes the braking force adjusted bythe adjuster, both the members stop rotation relative to each other.Hence, in this state, the scale of the display coincident with thepointer is read to enable an accurate braking force to be measured.

In addition, the braking force acting member and the braking force nowacting member to be discussed in detail below, are typically constitutedby a member non-rotatable relative to the spool shaft, for example, arotary member coupled therewith, constituting the braking force actingmember, and a member rotatable relative to the spool shaft, for example,the spool, constituting the braking force non-acting member. Also, bothof these members are constituted of the driving shaft or a membercomposed mainly of a drag disc at the drive shaft side supportedrelative to the driving shaft as the braking force acting member and thereel body or a member supported thereto as the braking force non-actingmember.

The present invention is further characterized by having together withthe braking force measuring mechanism a reference position settingmechanism for setting the reference position where the braking forceadjusted by the adjuster at the drag mechanism becomes optimum in therelationship between the target fish and the proof stress of the fishingline.

Thus, the braking force measuring mechanism can check the position wherethe optimum braking force is obtained, and thereafter the adjuster canbe specified at the reference position where the optimum braking forceis obtained. Hence, the adjuster, even when adjusted to increase ordecrease the braking force with respect to the reference position, cansimply and accurately be returned to the reference position by setting aposition specifying portion at the reference position setting mechanismto a reference portion.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent inthe detailed description and examples which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a first embodiment of a doublebearing reel of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a front view of a portion showing the relationship between apointer and a display,

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of theinvention, showing the principal portions only,

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a third embodiment of theinvention, showing the principal portions only,

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a fourth embodiment of theinvention, corresponding to FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view of the principal portion of thefourth embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an anti-reverse-rotation pawl and aswinging member only,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the entire fourth embodiment in FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side view illustrating operation of a lockmember, corresponding to FIG. 6,

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a fifth embodiment ofthe invention, corresponding to FIG. 1,

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of the principal portion of thefifth embodiment in FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an operating member only in the fifthembodiment,

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway side view of the principal portion foroperating the operating member, corresponding to FIG. 11, and

FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway side view of a sixth embodiment of theinvention, showing the principal portion thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is incorporated into a double bearing fishing reel whichis basically constructed with certain conventional features, in which aspool shaft 3 having a spool is rotatably supported between side frames1a and 1b at a reel body 1; and a drive mechanism A is constituted of adriving shaft 4 (to be hereinafter called the handle shaft) having ahandle 4a and rotatably supported to a fixed shaft 40 fixed to oneside-frame 1a, a main gear 5 supported to rotate relative to the handleshaft 4, and a pinion 6 engeageable with the main gear 5 and supportedto the spool shaft 3. Handle shaft 4 is driven to rotate the spool 2 forwinding a fishing line thereon. A drag mechanism B is constituted ofdrag plates 7 abutting against one side surface of the main gear 5, dragdiscs 8 abutting against the drag plates 7, and an adjuster 9 screwingwith the handle shaft 4 to apply a predetermined load to the drag plates7. Adjuster 9 rotates to adjust a braking force applied to the main gear5 with respect to the handle shaft 4 and to apply a predeterminedbraking force to rotation of the spool 3 with respect to the drivemechanism A.

In addition, in the fishing reel shown in FIG. 1, clutch means 10 isprovided between the pinion 6 and the spool shaft 3, and a clutch lever11 is slidably supported to the first side frame 1a and pushed toaxially slide the pinion 6 to disconnect the clutch means 10. A returnplate 13 having clutch pins 12 is supported to the handle shaft 4.Handle shaft 4 is reversely rotated to contact the clutch pin 12 withthe utmost end of the clutch lever 11 to return the clutch lever 11,thereby engaging the clutch means 10.

In a first embodiment of the double bearing fishing reel of theinvention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spool 2 is rotatably supported tothe spool shaft 3, and a substantially-shaped rotary member 14 oppositeto the end face of the spool 2 is supported non-rotatably relative tothe spool shaft 3. An elastic member 15 of a coil spring having a pairof spring ends is interposed between the spool 2 and the rotary member14, and a pointer 16 as shown in FIG. 2 is provided at the outerperipheral surface of the flange 2a at the spool 2. A display 17corresponding to the pointer 16 and for displaying the braking force ofthe drag mechanism B is provided at the outer peripheral surface of therotary member 14.

In the above-described construction, at one end surface of the spool 2are provided a cavity 2b in which the elastic member 15 is contained anda retaining bore 2c extending axially inwardly from the cavity 2b, andthe rotary member 14 is provided with an axially extending retainingbore 14a with the spring ends of elastic member 15 being retained in theretaining bores 2c and 14a respectively so as to transmit the rotationof spool 2 to the spool shaft 3 through the elastic member 15.

The spool shaft 3 is provided at the outer surface of one end portionthereof with flat faces to form a portion 3a having a non-round crosssection so that the rotary member 14 is fitted non-rotatably relative tothe spool shaft 3 through the non-round portion 3a.

At the outer peripheral surface of the flange 2a are provided aplurality of fitting bores 2d which are circumferentially spaced atpredetermined intervals, and at the outer peripheral portion of therotary member 14 is provided a flange 14b opposite to the outerperiphery of the flange 2a at the spool 2. A lock pin 18 is supported tothe flange 14b to detachably insertable into one fitting bore 2d,thereby constituting a lock means which operates the lock pin 18 toblock the rotation of spool 2 with respect to the rotary member 14.

Also, the spool shaft 3 is provided with snap rings 19 and 20 forblocking axial movement of the spool 2 and rotary member 14.

In addition, the fishing reel shown in FIG. 1 is provided at the handleshaft 4 with a reference member 21 having a reference portion 21a whichis non-rotatable and axially movable, relative thereto and at one sideof the adjuster 9 is provided a position setting member 22 having arecessed position setting portion 22a corresponding to the referenceportion 21a. Position setting member 22 is capable of having itsposition changed with respect to the adjuster 9, thereby allowing theposition setting portion 22a to coincide with the reference portion 21a.Hence, the adjuster 9 is adapted to be positioned to obtain the optimumbraking force.

The reference member 21 is substantially disc-shaped and has at itscenter a through bore and an engaging projection projecting inwardlywith respect to the inner surface of the through bore and engageablewith a groove 4b provided at the outer periphery of the handle shaft 4and extending axially thereof, thereby being fitted to the handle shaft4 so as to non-rotate relative thereto. Reference portion 21a isprovided at one side surface of the outer peripheral portion of thereference member 21. The position setting member 22 is substantiallydisc-shaped opposite to the adjuster 9 and has a through bore throughwhich the same is fitted onto the handle shaft 4 to rotate relativethereto. Engaging portions 22b and 9a are able to move axially relativeto each other and are provided at the position setting member 22 andadjuster 9 respectively so that the position setting member 22 can beassociated with the adjuster 9 to rotate in concert therewith. Acompression spring 23 is interposed between the position setting member22 and the handle 4a to maintain the engagement of engaging portions 22band 9a. The position setting member 22 is moved against the spring 23 todisengage the engaging portion 22b from engaging portion 9b, therebyrotating the position setting member 22 relative to the adjuster 9.

In the fishing reel constructed as described above prior to fishing, theadjuster 9 is rotated to preset the braking force of the drag mechanismB corresponding to the kind of a fish desired to be caught.

The lock up pin 18 is pulled to release the spool 2 from the spool shaft3 and then the fishing line wound onto the spool 2 is drawn, whereby thespool 2, overcoming the elastic member 15, rotates with respect to thespool shaft 3 and the elastic member 15 is deflected. When an elasticrestoring force of the elastic member 15 is larger than a forceequivalent to the braking force preset by the drag mechanism B, thespool shaft 3 overcomes the braking force of drag mechanism B, therebybeing rotatable together with the spool 2.

At a location where the spool shaft 3 and spool 2 rotate together, thescale of display 17 coincident with the pointer 16 is read, whereby anaccurate braking force of drag mechanism B is reliably observed.

After the measurement of the braking force, the lock pin 18 is insertedinto the fitting bore 2d to restrain the rotation of spool 2 withrespect to the spool shaft 3, thereby preventing the spool 2, during thefishing, from rotation by tension of a fishing line and under the forcesmaller than the braking force of drag mechanism B.

At the time of observing the accurate braking force of drag mechanism B,the lock pin 18 is operated to restrain the rotation of spool 2 asdescribed above, the position setting member 22 is rotated with respectto the adjuster 9, and the setting member 22 coincides with thereference portion 22a, thereby specifying the position where the optimumbraking force is obtained. Hence, even after the adjuster 9 is operatedto change the braking force of the drag mechanism B corresponding to apulling force of a hooked fish, the adjuster 9 is returned to theaforesaid location so as to be accurately and easily put in the positionwhere the preset optimum braking force is obtainable.

Accordingly, the fishing reel of the invention is convenient to use andfacilitates fishing. Also, the reference portion 21a engages with theposition setting portion 22a so as not to excessively reduce the brakingforce, thereby preventing the fishing line from being unwound andtangled. The compression spring 23 biases the position setting member 22to generate sounds when the reference member 22a engages therewith,whereby an angler can listen to the sounds to check whether the adjuster9 returns to the proper position.

Alternatively, as shown in a second embodiment of the invention in FIG.3, the spool 2 may be supported non-rotatably relative to the spoolshaft 3 and the rotary member 14 may be supported rotatably relativethereto so that rotary member 14 may be rotated overcoming the elasticmember 15, thereby enabling an angler to observe of the braking force ofthe drag mechanism B.

Also, the pointer 16 may alternatively be provided at the rotary member14 and the display 17 at the spool 2. The elastic member 15 uses thecoil spring and is reduced in coil diameter as the spool 2 rotates, butmay be compressed, which is not particularly limited in structure.

Also, the reference portion 21a and position setting member 22 are notindispensable. Both these members may be disposed reversely and may notengage but coincide with each other.

Alternatively, as shown in a third embodiment in FIG. 4, two first andsecond adjusters 24 and 25 may be used.

In this case, the first adjuster 24 screws with the handle shaft 4, andbetween the first adjuster 24 and a drag disc 8 are interposed thesecond adjuster 25 having a boss 25a and a cam body 28 desirablypositioned on the handle shaft 4 through a plurality of washers 26 and aspacer 27. An engaging projection 25b is provided at the end face of thesecond adjuster 25 opposite to the cam member 28. The first adjuster 24is operated to set a minimum braking force, and also the second adjuster25 adjusts the braking force set by the first adjuster 24.

In this case, a reference member 29 having a reference portion 29a issupported non-rotatably and axially movably relative to the handle shaft4 and a position specifying portion 25c preferably using a ballengageable with the reference portion 29a is provided at the secondadjuster 25, with the position specifying portion 25c and referenceportion 29a being coincident with each other, thereby enabling thesecond adjuster 25 to be positioned with accuracy to get the optimumbraking force.

Alternatively, in the aforesaid embodiments, the elastic member 15 maybe interosed between the handle shaft 4 or a member at the handle shaftside including the drag disc 8 and the reel body 1 or a member supportedthereto.

Next, explanation will be given of a fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 5through 9.

In FIG. 5, the main gear 5 and drag disc 8 are supported to the handleshaft 4 to form a drag mechanism B the same as the aforesaidembodiments. An anti-reverse-rotation gear 30 is supported to the handleshaft 4, and a swinging member 32 is supported swingably to the fixedshaft 40 rotatably supporting the handle shaft 4. Ananti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 engageable with the anti-reverse-rotationgear 30 to restrain the handle shaft 4 from reverse rotation is pivotedto the fore end portion of the swinging member 32, thereby beingdisplaceable in the rotating direction of the anti-reverse-rotation gear30 will respect to the side frame 1a through the swing member 32, and anelastic member 33 comprising a coil spring is interposed between theswinging member 32 and the side frame 1a as shown in FIG. 6. A window 1dis provided at a cover 1c at the first side frame 1a , and a pointer 34is provided at the edge of the window display 35 corresponding to thepointer 34 and displaying the braking force of the drag mechanism B isprovided at the swinging member 32, thereby enabling the display 35 tobe viewed from the exterior through the window 1d.

In the above construction, the swinging member 32 is provided with aplate-like body 32a, which has at one end a through bore and extendsalong the side frame 1a, and with a projection 32b bent perpendicularlyfrom the utmost end of the body 32a. Swinging member 32 is supported tothe fixed shaft 40 swingably through the through bore. Theanti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 is supported to the fore end portion ofthe body 32a and one end of the elastic member 33 is retained thereto. Astopper 32c to abut against a lock member to be discussed below isprovided at the body 32a and the display 35 is provided at theprojection 32b.

A spring holder 36 is provided at the first side frame 1a and retainsthe other end of the elastic member 33. At the first side frame 1a ispivoted a lock member 37 abutting against the stopper 32c at theswinging member 32 to regulate the swinging motion of swinging member 32and an operating member 38 for the lock member 37 is movably supportedto the cover 1c. The lock member 37 is biased by a spring 39 interposedbetween the lock member 37 and the cover 1c in the direction of movingaway from the swinging member 32, the operating member 38 being operatedto swing the lock member 37 against the spring 39 to abut the stopper32c, thereby restricting the swinging member 32 from swinging in thedirection of deflecting the elastic member 33.

The anti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 is provided at both sides of its foreend portion with a pair of friction plates 41 abutting against bothsides of the outer peripheral portion of the anti-reverse-rotation gear30, so that, when the anti-reverse-rotation gear 30 rotates in reverse,the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 swings in the direction of engagingwith the anti-reverse-rotation gear 30 through the friction plates 41,and when the gear 30 normally rotates, the pawl 31 swings in thedirection of moving away from the gear 30 through the friction plates41.

In addition, in the fourth embodiment, the same as in the firstembodiment, a reference member 21 having a projecting reference portion21a is non-rotatable and axially movably supported to the handle shaft 4and a position specifying member 22 having a recessed positionspecifying portion 22a corresponding to the reference portion 21a isprovided shiftably with respect to the adjuster 9, so that the positionspecifying poriton 22a and reference portion 21a coincide with eachother to accurately put the adjuster 9 in the optimum position.

In the fishing reel constructed as described above, prior to fishing,the adjuster 9 is rotated to preset the braking force of the dragmechanism corresponding to a target fish.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the state where the swinging member 32 isdisplaceable from the locking position in FIG. 9 with respect to thefirst side frame 1a, the fishing line wound on the spool 2 is pulled torotate the spool 2 in reverse or the spool 2 is directly rotated inreverse. Hence, the drag plate 7, drag disc 8, handle shaft 4 andanti-reverse-rotation gear 30 rotate integrally in the direction ofreverse rotation through the spool shaft 3, clutch means 10, pinion 6and main gear 5, so that the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 engaging withthe anti-reverse-rotation gear 30 and supported to the swinging member32 is displaced following the gear 30 in the reverse rotation directionthereof overcoming a force of elastic member 33. When an elasticrestoring force thereof becomes larger than the force equivalent to thebraking force set by the drag mechanism B, the gear 30, handle shaft 4and drag disc 8 stop rotation thereof.

At a location where the rotation of gear 30 stops, the scale at thedisplay 35 coincident with the pointer 34 is read to ensure the accuratebraking force.

In this case, the handle shaft 4 is rotated, and theanti-reverse-rotation-pawl 31 returns by the elastic restoring force ofelastic member 33 through the swinging member 32. After the pawl 31returns, the operating member 38 is moved in the direction of the arrowin FIG. 6 to allow the lock member 37 to abut against the stopper 32c asshown in FIG. 9, thereby restraining the pawl 31 from displacement withrespect to the first side frame 1a. Thus, the spool 2, during thefishing, is prevented from rotating by tension applied to the line andunder a force smaller than the braking force of the drag mechanism B.

At the time of checking the accurate braking force of the drag mechanismB, even when the lock member 37 abuts against the swinging member 32 toblock displacement of the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 with respect tothe first side frame 1a, the position specifying member 22 is rotatedwith respect to the adjuster 9 to allow the position specifiying member22 to coincide with the reference portion 21a, and the adjuster 9 isoperated to change the braking force of the drag mechanism Bcorresponding to a pulling force of a hooked fish. An adjuster 9, afterthe fishing, is returned to the position where the position specifyingportion 22a coincides with the reference portion 21a, whereby theadjuster 9 can easily and accurately be returned to the position wherethe preset braking force can be obtained.

Alternatively, an elongate slot concentric with the handle shaft 4 maybe provided at the side frame 1a and may support theanti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 so that the elastic member 33 may beinterposed between the side frame 1a and the anti-reverse-rotation pawl31.

The display 35 may alternatively be provided directly on theanti-reverse-rotation pawl 31.

Also, the display 35 may alternatively be provided at the reel body 1and the pointer 34 at the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 31.

Also, the elastic member 33 formed of a coil spring which is tensile mayalternatively be compressed, which is not particularly defined.

The lock member 37 is not indispensable. In the embodiment without alocking member, the maximum displacement of anti-reverse-rotation pawl31 is preset to thereby restrain the displacement thereof at theposition of the maximum displacement. Alternatively, theanti-reverse-rotation pawl 31 is restricted so as not to be displacedmore than a predetermined range in the positional relation between thepawl 31 and the swinging member 32 and anti-reverse-rotation gear 30when the pawl 31 is displaced.

Also, the reference position setting mechanism shown in FIG. 5 may bechanged in structure as shown in FIG. 4.

The fourth embodiment of the invention, which can ensure the presetaccurate braking force with checking being done at the handle shaftside, can be constructed at the spool side portion the same as inpresent fishing reel, thereby solving the problem of the fishing linebecoming tangled. Furthermore, the spool 2 is exchangeable as easily asthe conventinal reels.

Furthermore, since the anti-reverse-rotation pawl can be utilized, thefishing reel is simple in construction and inexpensive to produce incomparison with the fishing reel which provides a particular rotarymember at the spool shaft for checking the braking force.

In addition, in FIGS. 5 through 9, components having the sameconstruction as those in FIGS. 1 through 4 are designated with the samereference numerals.

Next, explanation will be given on a fifth embodiment of the inventionshown in FIGS. 10 through 13.

The fifth embodiment, the same as in the fourth embodiment, is soconstructed that a drag mechanism B is formed, an anti-reverse-rotationgear 50 is supported to the handle shaft 4, an anti-reverse-rotationpawl 51 engageable with the anti-reverse-rotation gear 50 is pivoted toa side plate 1e of a main member at the first side frame 1a through apivot shaft 52, and an operating member 53 for the anti-reverse-rotationpawl 51 is slidably supported to a cover 1c, so that the pawl 51 engageswith the gear 50 to restrain the handle shaft 4 from reverse rotation.

The anti-reverse-rotation pawl 51 is biased by a pawl spring (not shown)interposed between the pawl 51 and the side plate 1e in the direction ofengaging with the anti-reverse-rotation gear 50, and an arm 51a isprovided at one end of the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 51 at the pivotedside thereof. One engaging projection 53a engageable with the arm 51a isprovided at the operating member 53.

The operating member 53, as shown in FIG. 12, is provided with anoperating portion 53b projecting outwardly through an elongate guidebore 54c provided at the upper wall of the cover 1c, the engagingprojection 53a, and two engaging projections 53c opposite thereto.

An elastic member 55 of a coil spring engages at one end with a dragdisc 80 and at the other end with a control 56 pivoted to the pivotshaft 52, and a window 1f is provided at the cover 1c at the portionthereof opposite to the outside surface of the drag disc 80. A pointer57 is provided at the outside of the edge of window 1f, and a display 58corresponding to the pointer 57 and displaying the braking force of thedrag mechanism B is provided at the outside surface of the outerperipheral portion of the drag disc 80, the display 58 being visiblefrom the exterior.

In the above construction, at one end of the elastic member 55 isprovided a first engaging end 55a extending radially inwardly from thecoil and at the other end is provided a second engaging end 55b hookedradially outwardly. The drag disc 80 is provided at the outside surfaceof an intermediate portion thereof with a cylindrical spring holder 80ahaving a retaining bore, so that the coiled portion of spring 55 issupported to the spring holder 80a and the first engaging end 55a isinserted into the retaining bore, thereby rotating the elastic member 55together with the drag disc 80.

The control 56 is mounted on the fore end of the extended pivot shaft 52for the pawl 51 and is pivoted to the side plate 1e. Control 56 isprovided at its fore end portion with a control projection 56aengageable with the second engaging end 55b and at its root portion withan arm 56b projecting therefrom, the arm 56b engaging with the twoengaging projections 53c at the operating member 53, so that, when theanti-reverse-rotation pawl 51 engages with the anti-reverse-rotationgear 50, the control 56 is swung in the direction of moving away fromthe elastic member 55 to disengage the control projection 56a from thesecond engaging end 55b. When the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 51disengages from the anti-reverse-rotation gear 50, the control 56 swingstoward the elastic member 55, thereby engaging the control projection56a with the second engaging end 55b. Alternatively, the control 56 mayassociate with the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 51 without providing theengaining projections 53c.

In addition, in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a referencemember 21 having a projecting reference portion 21a is non-rotatably andaxially movably supported to the handle shaft 4 and a positionspecifying member 22 having a recessed position specifying portion 22acorresponding to the reference portion 21a is provided at the adjuster 9to be position-changeable with respect thereto, so that the positionspecifying portion 22a coincides with the reference portion 21a, therebyenabling the adjuster 9 to be positioned to obtain the optimum brakingforce.

When the fishing reel constructed as described above is used, the sameas in the former embodiments, the adjuster 9, prior to fishing, isoperated to preset the braking force of the drag mechanism Bcorresponding to a target fish.

As shown in FIG. 11, the second engaging end 55b engages with thecontrol projection 56a at the control 56, and in the state where theelastic member 55 is restrained from rotation together with the dragdisc 80, the fishing line wound on the spool 2 is pulled to rotate thespool 2 in reverse or the spool 2 is directly rotated in reverse. Hence,the drag plate 7, drag disc 80 and handle shaft 4 are integrally rotatedthrough the spool shaft 3, clutch means 10, pinion 6 and main gear 5,whereby the elastic member 55 retained at one end thereof to the dragdisc 80 is elastically deformed in the direction of enlarging its coildiameter.

When an elastic restoring force of elastic member 55 is larger than aforce equivalent to the braking force set by the drag mechanism B, thedrag disc 80 and handle shaft 4 stop rotation thereof through theelastic member 55.

Then, at a location where the drag disc 80 and handle shaft 4 stoprotation thereof, the scale of the display 58 coincident with thepointer 57 is read, thereby enabling the accurate braking force of thedrag mechanism B to be checked.

Also, at the time when the accurate braking force of drag mechanism B ischecked, the operating member 53 is moved in the direction of the arrowin FIG. 11 and the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 51 engages with theanti-reverse-rotation gear 50 as shown in FIG. 13. In this case, thecontrol 56, as shown in FIG. 13, swings in the direction of moving awayfrom the elastic member 55 (clockwise in FIG. 11), so that the controlprojection 56a retracts to disengage from the second engaging end 55b.Accordingly, during the fishing, the handle shaft 4 is restrained fromreverse rotation and the drag mechanism B is operated to wind the lineonto the spool 2.

After the accurate braking force of the drag mechanism B is checked, theposition specifying member 22 is rotated with respect to the adjuster 9to allow the position specifying portion 22a to coincide with thereference portion 21a, so that even when the adjuster 9 is operatedcorresponding to the hooked fish and the fish is caught by changing thebraking force of drag mechanism B, the adjuster 9 is returned to thecoincident position so as to be positioned easily and accurately toobtain the optimum braking force.

Alternatively, the elastic member 55 may be interposed between a memberseparate from the drag disc 80 and the first side frame 1a, or betweenthe handle shaft 4 and the same.

The control 56 may alternatively be supported to the first side frame 1awithout using the pivot shaft 52, or may be operated from the exteriorwithout using the operating member 53.

The control 56 may alternatively be constructed to disengage from thehandle shaft 4 or a member at the handle shaft side.

Also, the display 58 may alternatively be provided at the reel body 1and the pointer 57 at the handle shaft 4 or a member supportednon-rotatably relative thereto.

The elastic member 55 may alternatively be compressed rather thanexpanded in diameter, which is not particularly defined.

In addition, in an embodiment in which the coil spring is contracted indiameter to check the braking force, for example, the fishing reel ofthe invention is constructed as shown in a sixth embodiment in FIG. 14.

In the sixth embodiment, an elastic member 65 is retained at a firstengaging end 65a thereof, the same as in the fifth embodiment, to aretaining bore at a drag disc 80. A control 66 is formed of asemicircular bent portion 66a and an arm 66b bent outwardly from one endthereof. An elongate slot 66c formed at the arm 66b is supported to apivot shaft 52 supporting an anti-reverse-rotation pawl 61. At theutmost end of the bent portion 66a are provided a control projection 66eprojecting inwardly to engage with a second engaging end 65b of theelastic member 65 and an elongate slot 66d. A pin 67 erected from thecovers c is inserted therein. Between the bent portion 66a and the cover1c is interposed a return spring 68 for biasing the control 66 in thedirection of maintaining engagement of the control projection 66c withthe second engaging end 65b, and an operating member 63 supported to thecover 1c is provided with a cam face 63a engageable with the end face ofthe arm 66b of the control 66.

The operating member 63 is moved in the direction of the arrow X in FIG.14 to move the control 66 in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 14through the cam face 63a, thereby disengaging the control projection 66efrom the second engaging end 65b. In this case, the engaging projection63b at the operating member 63 disengages from an arm 61a at the pawl 61and the anti-reverse-rotation pawl 61 engages with theanti-reverse-rotation gear 60 through a pawl spring (not shown). Also,the operating member 63 is restored to restore the control member 66 bythe return spring 68, and the control projection 66e, as shown in FIG.14, moves toward the second engaging end 65b to engage therewith. Thepawl 61 swings against the spring pawl and disengages from theanti-reverse-rotation gear 60. In the sixth embodiment, a positioningmechanism to maintain the operating member 63 in its operating positionis provided between the inner surface of the cover 1c and the operatingmember 63. The positioning mechanism comprises a projection 69 providedat the inner surface of the cover 1c and a leaf spring 70 having anengaging portion 70a engageable with the projection 69 and a rectangularfitting bore 70b, so that the operating member 63 is fitted therein andheld by a lock pin 71. When the operating member 63 is operated, theengaging portion 70a rides over the projection 69 to maintain theoperating position of the operating member 3.

The cover 1c, as shown in FIG. 14, is provided at its side wall with awindow 1d and at the edge thereof with a pointer 72 and the drag disc 80is provided with a display 73.

In addition, the components in FIGS. 10 through 14 having the samestructure as those in FIGS. 1 through 4 are designated with the samereference numerals.

Alternatively, the reference position setting mechanism in FIG. 10 maybe changed in construction as shown in FIG. 4.

Although several embodiments have been described, they are merelyexemplary of the invention and not to be construed as limiting, theinvention being defined solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A double bearing fishing reel, comprising:a reelbody having a pair of side frames, a spool shaft supporting a spool andbeing journalled to said reel body, a drive mechanism for winding afishing line onto said spool, said drive mechanism including a drivingshaft, a master gear rotatably supported with respect to said drivingshaft, and a pinion supported to said spool shaft and being engageablewith said master gear, a drag mechanism for applying a braking forceagainst rotation of said spool with respect to said driving shaft, saiddrag mechanism comprising a drag disc non-rotatably supported withrespect to said driving shaft and facing said master gear, a firstadjuster disposed on said driving shaft for urging said drag disc towardsaid master gear so as to set the braking force against rotation of saidmaster gear with respect to said driving shaft and a second adjusterdisposed on said driving shaft for adjusting the braking force set bysaid first adjuster, a braking force measuring mechanism for measuringsaid braking force applied by said drag mechanism, said braking forcemeasuring mechanism comprising a braking force acting member which issubjected to braking action exterted by said drag mechanism, a brakingforce non-acting member which is rotatable relative to said brakingforce acting member, an elastic member interposed between said actingmember and said non-acting member, a pointer provided at one of saidacting member and said non-acting member, and a display provided at theother of said acting member and said non-acting member at a position atwhich said pointer points to said display to thereby display the brakingforce of said drag mechanism, and reference position setting means forlocating the second adjuster with respect to the first adjuster,comprising a reference member mounted on the driving shaft and moveablewith the first adjuster, the reference member having a reference portionfor indicating a reference position of the second adjuster with respectto the first adjuster where the braking force as adjusted by said secondadjuster is optimum, and a position specifying portion on said secondadjuster for corresponding in position to said reference portion at saidreference position.
 2. A double bearing fishing reel according to claim1, whereins said driving shaft supports said reference member havingsaid reference portion non-rotatably mounted relative thereto, saidposition specifying portion on said second adjuster is engaged with saidreference portion of the reference member at said reference position tothereby set the reference position of said second adjuster with respectto said first adjuster.